Obituary for C. Lucille Sanborn
C. Lucille (Lucy) Sanborn, 83, of Coldwater, passed away Saturday, March 7, 2020 at Drew’s Place. Her funeral service will be held Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 12:00 PM at Dutcher Funeral Home in Coldwater with Pastor Harold Jewell from the Oasis of Love Church officiating. Visitation will be held Thursday, prior to the service, beginning at 10:00 AM at Dutcher Funeral Home.
Lucy was born August 8, 1936 in Hutchinson, Kansas to John C. & Erma (Sweezey) Sims. Her family moved to Southern Michigan and it was there that she met Blaine Snyder, whom she married on June 11, 1955. Blaine and Lucy lived in Coldwater, spending many of their years together raising their family on a small farm. They divorced after approximately twenty years of marriage. Lucy married Burton Michael Sanborn on January 26, 1980 in Coldwater, spending many happy years together. Both Blaine and Michael preceded her in death, and she was also preceded in death by her brothers and sisters, Jack Sims, Charlotte Bowen, Alwilda Fields, and George Sims.
Lucy spent her entire life caring for others. She lost her mother when she was in the second grade, and began caring for her siblings from that time forward. While raising her own family, she also cared for her in-laws as their health failed, her siblings as they faced health issues in adulthood, her nieces and nephews, and any other person who crossed her path and needed a helping hand.
While caring for her family, Lucy spent the majority of her career also caring for Branch County’s children. Lucy began working for the Branch Intermediate School District in 1974 in the Special Education Department, then moving to the Head Start Program to serve as a Teacher’s Aid. In 1978 she became the Parent Involvement Coordinator, and in 1979 the program Director. Lucy served as Director until her retirement in 1995, growing the program from enrolling 60 children at one site, to enrolling 350 children at five sites. Lucy’s passion was caring for children, and she cared deeply about the students in the Head Start Program.
When Lucy’s boys were young, she served as a volunteer in Coldwater’s Cub Scout Program, earning “The Silver Fawn” award, their highest honor. Lucille also served on the Coldwater School Board of Education for eleven years, during which she became the first female Board President. She was an avid Horticulturist who loved gardening and flowers and was actively involved in the Coldwater Area Garden Club. Lucy was devoted to her work with the American Red Cross, organizing blood drives for many years. Lucy also had a huge heart for animals, being especially fond of cats and birds.
Lucy is survived by her children; her four sons, Blaine (Toni) Snyder of Angola, IN, Kit (Rickalene) Snyder of South Haven, Rusty (Stacey) Snyder of Grand Rapids, and Brett (Amy) Snyder of Bronson, and also Penny Stephens of Coldwater, Michelle (Michael) Richardson of Cecilia, KY, and Marc (Michelle) Sanborn of Elizabethtown, KY. She is survived by many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Memorials may be directed to Animal Aid of Branch Co or the American Red Cross. www.dutcherfh.com.
Lucy was born August 8, 1936 in Hutchinson, Kansas to John C. & Erma (Sweezey) Sims. Her family moved to Southern Michigan and it was there that she met Blaine Snyder, whom she married on June 11, 1955. Blaine and Lucy lived in Coldwater, spending many of their years together raising their family on a small farm. They divorced after approximately twenty years of marriage. Lucy married Burton Michael Sanborn on January 26, 1980 in Coldwater, spending many happy years together. Both Blaine and Michael preceded her in death, and she was also preceded in death by her brothers and sisters, Jack Sims, Charlotte Bowen, Alwilda Fields, and George Sims.
Lucy spent her entire life caring for others. She lost her mother when she was in the second grade, and began caring for her siblings from that time forward. While raising her own family, she also cared for her in-laws as their health failed, her siblings as they faced health issues in adulthood, her nieces and nephews, and any other person who crossed her path and needed a helping hand.
While caring for her family, Lucy spent the majority of her career also caring for Branch County’s children. Lucy began working for the Branch Intermediate School District in 1974 in the Special Education Department, then moving to the Head Start Program to serve as a Teacher’s Aid. In 1978 she became the Parent Involvement Coordinator, and in 1979 the program Director. Lucy served as Director until her retirement in 1995, growing the program from enrolling 60 children at one site, to enrolling 350 children at five sites. Lucy’s passion was caring for children, and she cared deeply about the students in the Head Start Program.
When Lucy’s boys were young, she served as a volunteer in Coldwater’s Cub Scout Program, earning “The Silver Fawn” award, their highest honor. Lucille also served on the Coldwater School Board of Education for eleven years, during which she became the first female Board President. She was an avid Horticulturist who loved gardening and flowers and was actively involved in the Coldwater Area Garden Club. Lucy was devoted to her work with the American Red Cross, organizing blood drives for many years. Lucy also had a huge heart for animals, being especially fond of cats and birds.
Lucy is survived by her children; her four sons, Blaine (Toni) Snyder of Angola, IN, Kit (Rickalene) Snyder of South Haven, Rusty (Stacey) Snyder of Grand Rapids, and Brett (Amy) Snyder of Bronson, and also Penny Stephens of Coldwater, Michelle (Michael) Richardson of Cecilia, KY, and Marc (Michelle) Sanborn of Elizabethtown, KY. She is survived by many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Memorials may be directed to Animal Aid of Branch Co or the American Red Cross. www.dutcherfh.com.